Former Saint Ann’s teacher Winston Nguyen faces federal lawsuit over misconduct

Two teenage women say a former trainer affiliated with a $63,000-a-year non-public college in Brooklyn threatened them with a “revenge porn explosion,” making nude pictures public after he allegedly pressured them to take specific photographs, in line with a newly filed federal lawsuit.

The lawsuit accuses Winston Nguyen, a former trainer at Saint Ann’s Faculty, of soliciting nude photographs and movies from the ladies once they have been simply 13 years previous and later sharing the fabric with college students.

Nguyen pleaded responsible final yr to a misdemeanor cost and a number of felonies and is now serving a seven-year jail sentence, in line with the Brooklyn District Legal professional’s Workplace.

The civil criticism, filed Thursday in federal courtroom, names Saint Ann’s Faculty, a number of directors and Nguyen as defendants. The ladies, who weren’t college students at Saint Ann’s, allege college directors have been negligent and did not act regardless of repeated warnings about Nguyen’s conduct.

FORMER LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER ANNOUNCED FOR ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO STUDENT INTO SEX

Winston Nguyen will seem in Brooklyn Supreme Courtroom on March 19, 2025. Nguyen was sentenced to seven years in jail for tricking a number of youngsters underneath the age of 13 into sending him sexually promiscuous photographs, amongst different unlawful actions. Two sufferer impression statements have been learn, however the victims weren’t in courtroom. He additionally had the stays of a black eye as a result of his lawyer mentioned he had been overwhelmed up whereas in custody. (Gregory P. Mango)

Nguyen, 39, was arrested in June 2024 exterior the Brooklyn Heights campus. He pleaded responsible to utilizing a toddler in a sexual efficiency and 5 felonies.

Saint Ann’s, an elite non-public college that costs roughly $60,000 a yr in tuition and is understood for its excessive Ivy League acceptance fee and excessive attendance, together with celebrities, artists and Wall Avenue executives, has been surrounded by scandal for almost two years.

The lawsuit marks the primary time a few of Nguyen’s victims have publicly shared their accounts.

LAWYER RIPS US GYMNASTICS Amid Lawsuit Over Alleged Failure To Shield Athletes From Sexual Assault

Brooklyn District Legal professional Eric Gonzalez mentioned Nguyen violated his place of belief by focusing on teenage victims from a number of elite impartial colleges.

Prosecutors say Nguyen used the messaging app Snapchat to pose as a teenage boy and interact minors in sexually specific conversations, persuading them to ship nude photographs and movies. The victims have been between 13 and 15 years previous and the crimes occurred between October 2022 and Might 2024, the district legal professional’s workplace mentioned.

In accordance with the criticism, obtained by the New York Occasions, the ladies say they felt pressured to conform as a result of they believed Nguyen was a peer with social affect related to Saint Ann’s college students.

“This was a sickening betrayal of belief by an educator who inspired college students to ship him graphic and nude photographs,” Gonzalez mentioned on the sentencing. “At present’s sentencing holds him accountable for his actions, whereas saving younger and weak victims from having to relive this emotional abuse in courtroom.”

CALIFORNIA ‘PARTY MOM’ ACCUSED OF Grooming VICTIMS FOR SEX, DRINKING AT RITZY MANSION, TEENS WITNESSES AT TRIAL

On this photograph illustration, a cell phone display screen exhibits the Snapchat brand in entrance of a keyboard. (Muhammed Enes Yildirim / Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photos)

After the ladies broke off contact, Nguyen allegedly shared their nude photographs with different college students.

The lawsuit alleges that Saint Ann management was warned twice in early 2024 that specific pictures of younger women have been circulating amongst college students on Snapchat, however did not notify police or intervene exterior of inner conferences.

“Solely the college was conscious of the revenge porn in circulation and of Nguyen’s historical past of misconduct,” the criticism mentioned.

HARASSED TEACHER ACCUSED OF USING GOOGLE DOCUMENTS TO Groom MINOR STUDENT FOR ALLEGED SEX CRIMES

Winston Nguyen will seem in Brooklyn Supreme Courtroom on March 19, 2025. Nguyen was sentenced to seven years in jail for tricking a number of youngsters underneath the age of 13 into sending him sexually promiscuous photographs, amongst different unlawful actions. Two sufferer impression statements have been learn, however the victims weren’t in courtroom. He additionally had the stays of a black eye as a result of his lawyer mentioned he had been overwhelmed up whereas in custody. (Gregory P. Mango)

In accordance with the criticism, Saint Ann directors knew when Nguyen was employed in 2020 that he had beforehand served time in jail. The New York Occasions reported in December 2024 that a minimum of one staffer warned towards hiring Nguyen, citing his legal historical past involving monetary exploitation of an aged couple.

Nguyen was initially employed as a clerk earlier than turning into a highschool math trainer. Faculty officers reportedly knew he was sleeping on campus, gave college students items and snacks and searched for college kids on social media.

Dad and mom, lecturers and college students who raised considerations have been reportedly fired or “shamed” for being “racist or not progressive,” in line with a 2024 legislation agency report commissioned by the college. Nguyen is the son of Vietnamese immigrants.

FORMER MISSOURI SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS GET 10 YEARS FOR TRADING STUDENT FEE AND DRUGS FOR SEX

After the lawsuit was filed within the Jap District of New York, Saint Ann leaders despatched a letter to the college group disputing the allegations.

“The criticism accommodates a number of misrepresentations of Saint Ann’s function, and we are going to deal with and contest this delicate matter by way of the suitable authorized channels,” wrote head of faculty Kenyatte Reid and Board of Trustees Chairwoman Mary Watson, including that they have been “involved.”[ed] for all of the victims affected by Nguyen’s actions.”

The ladies’ legal professional, Joshua Perry, mentioned the proof will present that Saint Ann management repeatedly ignored warning indicators about Nguyen’s conduct.

“The varsity ignored each warning signal and coddled a identified predator,” Perry informed Fox Information Digital.

Perry mentioned Saint Ann’s knew that Nguyen had prior convictions involving weak victims, knew that he groomed college students with items, communicated with them on social media, crossed boundaries by visiting their houses and arranged unauthorized periods with college students on campus.

ELITE MASSACHUSETTS Boarding Faculty Rocked by Instructor Scandal and Institutional Cowl-Up Accusations

Winston Nguyen attends the premiere of the New York collection ‘metropolis.ballet’. at Tribeca Cinemas on November 4, 2013 in New York Metropolis. (Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic)

“These aren’t simply my suspicions,” Perry mentioned. “The varsity’s personal inner investigator, the legislation agency Debevoise and Plimpton, found all these info. However the college nonetheless refuses to just accept any accountability.”

Perry additionally pushed again on the suggestion that damages to his purchasers have been merely alleged, noting Nguyen’s responsible plea.

“It isn’t simply alleged. Nguyen pleaded responsible, and Jane and Joan’s impression statements have been learn throughout his sentencing,” he mentioned.

Perry mentioned the ladies, recognized within the lawsuits as Jane and Joan, have been deeply traumatized.

TEXAS SUBSTITUTE TEACHER CHARGED WITH CHILD SEX OFFENSE, ‘NO LONGER EMPLOYED’ AT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Women at Saint Ann’s Faculty in Brooklyn Heights have been threatened in a “revenge porn” lawsuit. (Google Maps)

“They have been devastated. Depressed. Anxious. Terrified. Ashamed,” Perry mentioned. “However they’re extremely courageous younger girls, and they’re combating again.”

Nguyen’s legal professional, Frank Rothman, informed The New York Occasions that his shopper is grime poor and in jail, however acknowledged the potential legal responsibility for the college.

“They need to have a minimum of thought of, ‘Is that this the person for the job?’” Rothman mentioned.

Saint Ann’s has beforehand confronted allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2019, the college acknowledged that 19 former workers members could have behaved inappropriately in direction of college students.

Statements from the ladies have been learn throughout Nguyen’s sentencing listening to final yr.

“Photos of me as a unadorned preteen shall be on the web ceaselessly,” one individual wrote. “You ruined my life, broke my capability to belief, and damage any likelihood of loving myself.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Perry mentioned he hoped extra victims would come, however accused Saint Ann’s of discouraging them.

“Saint Ann’s has a monitor file of bullying and intimidating victims,” he mentioned. “However Jane and Joan are combating again, and different younger girls can, too.”

Perry mentioned he calls for accountability from Saint Ann’s management and accuses college officers of minimizing accountability.

“Saint Ann has unleashed a predator on the youngsters of Brooklyn,” he mentioned. “They cannot cover of their ivory tower.”

Fox Information Digital reached out to Saint Ann’s Faculty and Nguyen’s legal professional for remark.

Stepheny Worth covers crime together with lacking individuals, murders and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.worth@fox.com.